Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Invite the Muses

Finding inspiration can sometimes be a daunting task. So what to do when you simply have no new ideas? First, you have to realize and accept that these things cannot be forced. In fact, the harder you try, the less you'll get. Sounds counter-intuitive right? But it's not. The truth is, a lack of inspiration mainly stems from an overload of information. Your mind needs time to process, and most of us are going/doing/thinking way too fast for that to happen. You have to slow down and stop, just for a bit, and essentially "re-boot" your mind. Haven't you noticed that some of your best ideas pop into your head while doing something routine or absolutely nothing?

Consider these examples:
Newton was loafing under an apple tree when he saw an apple fall and got the idea of gravity. Galileo was sitting and watching a great swinging lamp which triggered the idea of a swinging pendulum as a means to measure time. And Watt was just waiting for his teakettle to boil when the steam lifting the lid gave him the idea of a steam engine.

There are more spells on inviting the muses than I could ever list here. Some are as simple as carrying a piece of orange calcite with you, and others are require a full ritual. Now I'm not big on ritual (just a personal preference) so I've come up with something a bit simpler. All you need is a little quiet time and a candle. Think about where or when you tend to get your best ideas. For me that's in the shower and in the brief moment between awake and asleep. It's probably different for you so adapt this to fit.

Take a yellow (for creativity) candle with you to your bathroom or bedroom. Light the candle with the intention of inviting the muses. You can do this however works for you. Then get in the shower or fall asleep while the candle burns. Empty your mind of conscious thought and just let it wander. You will probably not get an immediate result, but you have sent the invitation and opened yourself to it. When you're done, snuff out the candle (if it's still burning), and LET IT GO. The inspiration will come, but not if you keep thinking about it. If after a few days nothing has come to you, repeat the spell and do what you can to slow down.